Posted on 05/12/2014 9:47:14 AM PDT by mkleesma
With most consumers favoring smaller foreign cars and the US auto industry seemingly headed for the toilet, there is still one demographic that Detroit has a solid hold on… Retirees. Buyers over 65 are the last hope for the good old American car. In some dealerships, upwards of 85 percent of all Buick buyers are 55 and older. That’s an ominous sign for the future of American autos.
The over-65ers look at brands like Buick, Lincoln and Cadillac as status symbols. Those brands have what advertisers call the “Mind Share” in that demographic. Retirees remember a time when the only people driving those cars were celebrities and other high profile members of society; now they want in to that high-profile group of Cadillac drivers. Plus, older folks like familiarity, they know these brands, they've heard them their whole life.
Check out the list of the top ten cars most popular with retirees:
(Excerpt) Read more at ridelust.com ...
I love my Buicks. One is “new” to the family, but just as you described, Dr. Sivana, a car used by a retiree that passed away. Mint condition.
My 1995 Buick Regal is closing in on 200k miles. Amazing how well it runs.
The “new” car is a 2007 Buick LaCrosse. Just love it. Looking forward to a few road trips when time allows.
Looks like our old folks are doing pretty well for themselves.
(All that SS and Medicare income transfer? ;-) )
We are ready to trade and I am seriously looking at Volvo’s. My wife wants an Explorer but she no longer needs the seating. We want something we can give our daughter after graduation. My daughter drives a 2000 ZX2 and drives like an old woman.... a REALLY old woman.
Note: Daughter sang at the House Impeachment Rally when she was 4.
Cool ride, olde dude !!
Schnowzer.... extremely smart fellow.
I’m 66, and drive a 2005 Audi A6 Quattro. About 65,000 miles now, so I hope to get several years more from it.
If we get another vehicle, it will probably be diesel or hybrid (not certain), and smaller.
A VW Jetta diesel wagon is appealing, for economy, form and function, etc.
I would clearly consider a domestic diesel wagon, if any of them made one for discerning American customers.
But that is one of several segments the domestic makers don’t serve.
How about a retro-cool midsized wagon, like say a Nomad, with diesel power?
There’s a Chevy Cruze diesel out now, and I believe there’s a wagon variant of that model that’s not sold domestically. Subaru has a nice diesel flat four, again not sold domestically, their US spec cars are built in Indiana.
I’ll walk before I drive any of those barges.
Maybe my ‘57 Pontiac Chieftan will be finished the day before I turn 65.
Maybe not...
So I’ll buy a T-Bucket.
So there.
“I love to have a Mafia staff car (Lincoln Town car in black from the 80’s).”
Here you go, ‘86 Town Car in triple black with carriage roof, one owner, 64K miles, needs just a few minor things to be perfect, $7,000.00.
“There’s a Chevy Cruze diesel out now, and I believe there’s a wagon variant of that model that’s not sold domestically. Subaru has a nice diesel flat four, again not sold domestically, their US spec cars are built in Indiana.”
I understand that. I also understand that while Dodge had a wagon a few years ago, today I’m not aware of any wagons from the domestics.
I’m also aware that Mercedes, Volvo, BMW, Audi, Acura, VW, have had one or more wagon models for sale in the US market for decades. (true, some have exchanged an SUV for a wagon, for the US market but they still make the wagon)
If big domestic maker can’t supply such options, when smaller volume foreign makers can, makes me wonder why? The domestics don’t make the wagons for any market, unlike the foreign makers.
Domestics have gone from market leaders, to market followers during my adult lifetime.
The automotive decision makers for domestically manufactured vehicles are convinced that Americans want an SUV and not a wagon. I have the last model year sold domestically of the Subaru Legacy GT Limited wagon, 2007. The kicker is, it’s still being manufactured in Indiana. For export. You can get one in Canada. Stupid. Ford, GM and Chrysler only understand volume. Sport wagons and diesel wagons are a niche here, they believe.
BMW has a diesel AWD wagon now, a little rich for my blood new, over $50K. Not enthused about maintenance costs even when it’s a few years old and depreciated within reach. But, that or a Jetta Diesel wagon will probably be my next car, unless I unexpectedly discover another ‘07 LGT wagon that’s been driven very little.
For many years Toyota enthusiasts begged for a new version of the RWD Corolla GT-S. Known as Hachi Roku in Japan the car is a favorite with the drifting crowd. The FR-S is a worthy successor.
My Toyota 4-runner is about 11 years old, and has so little legroom. That’s my most important requirement next time around. I also need something that can pull an 18 foot bass boat, but that isn’t too high off of the ground.
When I retire... I want a 45 foot yacht.
I’m pretty sure the term rice rocket started with the first Datsun 240Z cars that debuted in 1969. Before that, most Japanese vehicles were more like motorcycles with boxy bodies. I bought a 280Z brand new in 1978 that had a fuel injected inline six with a five speed that was pretty quick and handled very well. My first wife got it in the divorce.
I was told by a Kia salesman that many older people are buying the Kia Soul - it is small and gets good mileage but it’s safer and easier to get in and out of than an econobox but relatively inexpensive compared to small SUV’s.
The automotive decision makers for domestically manufactured vehicles are convinced that Americans want an SUV and not a wagon. I have the last model year sold domestically of the Subaru Legacy GT Limited wagon, 2007. The kicker is, it’s still being manufactured in Indiana. For export. You can get one in Canada. Stupid. Ford, GM and “Chrysler only understand volume. Sport wagons and diesel wagons are a niche here, they believe.
BMW has a diesel AWD wagon now, a little rich for my blood new, over $50K. Not enthused about maintenance costs even when it’s a few years old and depreciated within reach. But, that or a Jetta Diesel wagon will probably be my next car, unless I unexpectedly discover another ‘07 LGT wagon that’s been driven very little.”
Subaru Outback wagon from a few years ago was like Legacy, right?
Ten yrs. ago the Outback was 250 hp (turbo), awd, etc.
Outback is a Legacy wagon with a lifted suspension, more off road looking wheels and tires, lower body cladding, etc. They do still do one with a turbo. I strongly prefer the now-absent-from-the-US-market GT model, though.
The article is from 2008. It even has a Mercury on the list. Where are you going to buy a Mercury now?
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